What Happened

The New York Mets announced that they have designated Frankie Montas for assignment and requested his unconditional release waivers, effectively removing him from the 40-man roster. At the same time they selected the contract of outfield prospect Nick Morabito and added him to the 40-man.
The timing aligns with the upcoming Rule 5 Draft deadline, meaning Morabito is now protected from being selected by another club.

Montas: A Rough Tenure Ends

Montas signed a two-year, $34 million deal last December, counting on the Mets to tap into his upside as a starting pitcher.
Instead:

He made only nine appearances (38⅔ innings) for the Mets in 2025, posting a 6.28 ERA.

He dealt with a lat strain in Spring Training, debuting only in June.

In August he underwent surgery on his UCL, meaning he will likely miss all or most of 2026.

The Mets still owe him approximately $17 million for 2026.

From the front office’s perspective, this move frees up a roster spot and closes the book on what has become one of the more disappointing free-agent signings in recent Mets memory.

Morabito: A Prospect Gets the Nod

Morabito, a second-round pick of the Mets in the 2022 draft, was added to the 40-man to prevent him from being siphoned off in the Rule 5 Draft.
Here’s what we know about his skills and upside:

In 2025 at Double-A Binghamton, he hit .273/.348/.385 with six homers, 27 doubles, and stole 49 bases.

Over his professional career, he’s swiped 130 bases in 160 attempts.

MLB Pipeline ranks him as the Mets’ No. 16 prospect, noting his terrific speed but cautioning that he often hits too many groundballs and will need to elevate more often if he’s to be more than a fourth-outfielder type.

Defensively he’s versatile — capable of playing all three outfield spots — though his arm is viewed as modest, making right-field perhaps his least natural fit.

Implications for the Mets

For the present:

Removing Montas from the 40-man clears a spot, which gives the Mets more flexibility in offseason moves or protecting more prospects.

The sunk cost of Montas is still real — the salary counts, and the fact he will likely miss 2026 means this contract continues to weigh on the organization.

For the future:

The promotion of Morabito signals a commitment to giving prospects opportunities and protecting them when their stock requires it.

But the caveat remains: Morabito is still a work in progress. His speed gives him a clear path to a big-league role (especially in a lighter hitting load), but the Mets will want to see him refine his hitting profile and power output before you penciled him into a starting outfield slot.

The move hints at the Mets slowly pivoting toward a roster that blends current major-league contributors with younger, high-ceiling pieces as they build toward contention.

Looking Ahead

It’s likely the Mets’ front office will continue monitoring their roster and prospect list closely. With Morabito protected, fans can watch how he performs in Triple-A (if the Mets assign him there) or how he handles spring training next year. On the pitching side, the Montas chapter may serve as a cautionary tale about the risks of investing heavily in arms with recent injuries or limited recent innings.

Final Word

While the departure of Montas closes one door — and not without its frustration for Mets fans — it opens another. Morabito’s addition shows a willingness to lean into youth, speed, and development. Whether he becomes a meaningful contributor remains to be seen. In the meantime, this roster move is a clear statement: the Mets are actively managing their roster, cutting losses where needed, and protecting assets for the long game.